Content
Catarrhal mastitis in cows is quite common. The first signs of catarrhal inflammation of the mammary gland in cows are difficult to determine even for an experienced specialist. To identify this ailment, it is necessary to study the main signs and pathogenesis of the disease.
Pathogenesis of catarrhal mastitis in cows
Catarrhal mastitis in cows is most often the result of an inflammatory process on the skin of the nipples and epithelium of the nipple canal as a result of injury to the udder, damage to the mucous membrane during rough milking. Pathogenic microorganisms enter the milk ducts and the cistern through the nipple canal, less often hematogenous and lymphogenous.
Catarrhal mastitis in cows can occur:
- in acute form lasting up to 10 days;
- in a subacute form lasting up to three weeks;
- in a chronic form lasting more than a month.
The pathogenesis of catarrhal mastitis in cows, proceeding in an acute form, is characterized by degeneration, damage to the glandular and integumentary epithelium of the mammary gland with the formation of exudate and migration of leukocytes to the focus of inflammation.
With untimely treatment, the disease turns into a subacute or chronic form. The inflammatory process spreads and affects the alveoli of the mammary gland. The epithelium accumulates toxic waste products of pathological microorganisms - exo- and endotoxins. Metabolic products lead to the death of cells of the glandular epithelium. Flakes of casein and mucus impurities appear in cow's milk. A few days later, obstruction of the milk ducts is noted in the affected lobes of the mammary gland due to the formation of retention cysts and proliferation of connective tissue.
Etiology of catarrhal mastitis in cows
The causes of catarrhal mastitis in cattle are considered:
- violation of zoohygienic norms and rules for keeping dairy cows;
- injuries to the udder and nipples;
- non-observance of sanitary rules during milking;
- violation of the technique of machine and manual milking.
It is unacceptable to keep dairy cows in damp, unventilated rooms with a violation of the temperature regime. Stalls and boxes must be cleaned of manure and litter daily. It is also unacceptable to express milk from cows with mastitis on the floor and bedding - this can provoke infection of the udder of healthy animals and relapse of the disease.
Inspect the animal for damage before milking. Injured areas must be disinfected. Udder injuries are often the result of crowded animal housing, so the premises for keeping and walking the milking herd should be spacious.
Catarrh of the cistern and milk passages often occurs when the rules of machine milking of cattle are violated, rough manual milking, which causes injuries to the udder. Catarrhal mastitis in cows often occurs in the first weeks of lactation. Often this form of breast inflammation develops in first-calf heifers.
Clinical signs of catarrhal mastitis in cows
The first clinical signs of catarrhal mastitis in cows with inflammation of the milk ducts and cisterns can be seen on the 3-4th day. On palpation of the lower part of the udder quarter and the base of the nipple, a pea-sized lump can be felt. At the beginning of the inflammatory process, the milk expressed from the affected quarter has a heterogeneous watery consistency with flakes and crumbly clots of casein. With catarrhal mastitis in cows, milk becomes yellowish or bluish. During subsequent milking, the milk has a normal uniform consistency and color.
By 3-4 days in the first portions of the secretion, you can notice curdled clots that fill the milk ducts and make it difficult to express. The cow does not feel painful sensations when palpating the udder and milking, the general condition of the animal does not cause concern. Milk production with catarrhal mastitis in cows may decrease slightly.
The most dangerous form of catarrhal mastitis in cows is inflammation of the alveoli. Alveolar inflammation is accompanied by a deterioration in the animal's condition, appetite and an increase in temperature to 40-41 ° C, pulse and respiration also increase. The affected quarter or share of the udder slightly increases in volume. There is an increase in local temperature, hyperemia and soreness on palpation of the udder. The milk secretion has a heterogeneous consistency with admixtures of mucous clots, flakes with a grayish or yellow tint throughout the milking process.
Treatment of catarrhal mastitis in cows
In the treatment of catarrhal mastitis in cows, hormonal, analgesic drugs and antibiotics are used. Before starting to treat catarrhal mastitis in cows, the animal should be limited to feeding juicy, concentrated feed, as well as watering.
The affected portion of the udder, first of all, must be freed from milk contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms and their metabolic products. During the day, it is necessary to milk the inflamed udder lobe 2-3 times manually. Before milking, gently massage the udder towards the teats.
The mucous clots accumulated in the milk passages and the cistern are liquefied by introducing 40-50 ml of warm soda solution (1-2%), followed by decanting for 15 minutes. 5-7 minutes before milking (non-pregnant cows), you can enter 25-30 U of oxytocin (subcutaneously) - this will make it possible to completely remove the affected milk secretion from the areas of the milk lobe. After expressing milk into the affected part of the udder through the teat canal, it is necessary to inject 8-10 ml of the Mastisan emulsion (A, B or E), heated to 36-38 ° C once or twice a day.
Prognosis and possible complications
With timely diagnosis and proper treatment of the disease in the initial stage (5-7 days), the prognosis is favorable. The milk production of an animal after catarrhal mastitis, as a rule, is restored.
On the 10-15th day, the inflammatory process, if untreated, turns into catarrh of the alveoli of the mammary gland. The formation of multiple nodes and cysts leads to udder atrophy and obliteration of the milk ducts. In this case, milk production is not restored to its original value.
The first symptoms of catarrhal mastitis in cows, especially at the initial stage, are difficult to identify even for a veterinarian, therefore, treatment of this disease is often prescribed when obvious signs and complications appear. The catarrhal form of mastitis often occurs during the lactation period. During the dry period and the start-up period, the disease occurs less often. In the dry period, it is very difficult to determine the presence of the disease, and at the beginning of the next lactation, the pathological process becomes aggravated and takes place in a clinical form.
Prevention of catarrhal mastitis in cattle
To exclude the likelihood of this disease, you must follow the basic preventive measures:
- keep stalls and other places where the dairy cattle livestock clean (cleaning and disinfection);
- observe the temperature regime, prevent drafts;
- comply with sanitary standards for machine and manual milking of cows;
- launch cows in a timely and gradual manner before calving;
- exclude crowded keeping of animals in order to avoid injuries to the udder;
- expressing the first portions of milk in special containers with a mesh - this will help diagnose signs of mastitis and prevent contaminated milk secretion from falling on the floor.
For early detection of catarrhal and other types of mastitis in cows, it is necessary to regularly examine the udder and observe the animal, which, in the event of a disease, will allow the veterinarian to draw up a medical history and prescribe treatment based on the data obtained.
Conclusion
Catarrhal mastitis in cows, like other forms of this disease, is dangerous because, with delayed treatment, part of the animal's mammary gland can completely lose the ability to milk production. Timely treatment and prevention of the disease, as well as compliance with zoohygienic standards for keeping dairy animals will help to avoid the consequences of catarrhal mastitis.
